Ottawa Shootings

On Wednesday October 22nd, a gunman murdered an army reservist at Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, Canada. The shooter has been identified as Michael Joseph Hall, a 32-year-old man who recently changed his name to Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. Sources say his name was changed due to his conversion to Islam. Prior to his conversion, Zehaf-Bibeau had a criminal record for drug related charges. Therefore, many rumors have speculated that he is connected to the infamous terrorist group, ISIS. He was a Canadian citizen, born in Montreal, Canada.

ISIS began setting up intense recruitments in Canada shortly before the shooting. Furthermore, this leads to further speculation that he was connected to ISIS. Although the government is still unsure of his motives, Zehaf-Bibeau applied for a passport Monday hoping to travel to Syria. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner, Bob Paulson said, “However, we have not come to ground completely on his motivations for this attack. But clearly, it’s linked to his radicalization. Clearly, it’s linked to his difficult circumstances.” Many believe Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was a jihadist since they often go to Syria, but again, there is no evidence. According to the Ottawa Mayor and other witness’s of the shooting, Zehaf-Bibeau was alone during his attack.

The victim, an army reservist named Nathan Cirillo, was murdered as he guarded Canada’s famous National War Museum. Very shortly after the museum shooting, gunshots went off at a building on Parliament Hill. “I heard rapid fire — gunshots going very loud — and I figure maybe 20-plus shots within 10 seconds,” Kevin Lamoureux, Canadian Deputy House Leader, reported as a response to the shooting. There has been no suspect reported for the Parliament shooting.